It Started With a Kiss
by Ella Quinn
GENRE: Historical Romance
What is a young Worthington woman to
do when the man of her dreams is not who she thinks he is?
This season, all eyes are on the
Earl of Worthington’s spirited, beautiful sister, Lady Louisa Vivers. Many
gentlemen are vying for her attention in and around the ton. Yet, Louisa longs
for someone who can take her beyond the ballroom—a man who is worldly,
adventurous, and passionate. She won’t settle for just any suitor. She wants
her true soul mate—and she’ll know him when she sees him.
Is Gideon, the Duke of Rothwell,
him? The moment he and Louisa meet, they share a powerful attraction. Rides at
sunrise and waltzes at dusk follow. Finally, Gideon can no longer resist the
urge to embrace her, and Louisa is sure he will ask for her hand. But Gideon
believes he is in no position to marry. The Rothwell estate has gone bankrupt,
a scandal simmers in its wake, and he has nothing left to offer. Now, he must decide
if he will let pride stand in the way of true love—or if he will risk
everything, and let the lady decide for herself…
Early
morning, Hyde Park, May 1815
Dawn
had broken only a few minutes before, but a light fog clouded the air making
the sun look like a small yellow ball. Gideon, Duke of Rothwell, was certain he
was the only rider at this hour of the morning. Needing the calm a hard ride
gave him, he thundered down the empty carriage way. Suddenly, from out of
nowhere, a dark bay burst through the mist, disturbing his solitude. Yet it was
the massive dog, almost the size of a pony, keeping pace with the horse that
caught his notice.
What
the devil?
Faisu,
his black Murgese stallion, pranced nervously as Gideon brought him to a halt.
“Easy, boy. We don’t need that beast tangling with you. He could sever your
hamstrings in an instant.”
A
moment later, a twist of long, dark hair pulled loose from under the rider’s hat,
riveting his attention on the woman. By the time she was even with him, he’d
taken in the neat figure encased in a dark blue riding habit, and her excellent
seat.
She
glanced over, slowing her horse for a bare moment as she passed him. Her cheeks
were pink from the cool air and a smile graced her lush rose lips. Their gazes
collided and held. As if they were the only two people on earth. In that
second, Gideon felt as if he would tumble into the vivid blue of the rider’s
eyes that reminded him of lapis.
She
cannot be real.
He
blinked and she was gone. He might have dreamed her except that a few seconds
later, a groom raced by, clearly attempting to catch up with his mistress.
For
a moment he was tempted to follow as well, but it wouldn’t do him any good. She
was obviously a lady, and even if he could obtain an introduction, and their
relations proceeded satisfactorily, he was not yet in a position to wed.
It
was pure fantasy to think of marriage in conjunction with a woman he’d seen in
passing. Still, he would have liked to have been able to dream.
Blast
Father! If he were still alive, I’d shake some sense back into him.
But
the old duke had been in the ground for over three months when Gideon had
returned from Canada. Now all he could do was pick up the pieces his father had
left behind.
Bestselling author Ella
Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading
historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love
of historical novels led her to start writing them. She has just finished her
first series, The Marriage Game, and her new series, The Worthingtons, began in
April 2016.
She is married to her
wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful
granddaughters, and a dog. After living in the South Pacific, Central America,
North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their
dreams come true and are now living on a sailboat cruising the Caribbean and
North America. Europe is next!
Website:
www.ellaquinnauthor.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/EllaQuinnAuthor
Twitter
www.twitter.com/ellaquinnauthor
Buy Links:
Ella will be awarding an Autographed ARC of
IT STARTED WITH A KISS (US Only) to 5 randomly drawn winners
via rafflecopter during the tour.
3 comments:
Just love historical romances !
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks so much for having me on!!
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